Coll 5/61 ‘Far East: Proposed extension to Burma-Yunnan frontier of Imperial Airways to link up with Eurasia Corporation’ [‎165v] (329/728)

93D ; 93H ; 93K ; 93 0 ; all place names are not shown on the 1|M Map.] No
detailed reports have been received on these sites, none of which has been
inspected by an experienced air officer.
(2) At Loikaw in the Karen States (Lat. 19° 40' N., Long. 97° 12' E. approxi
mately), about 80 miles south of Taunggyi on the Thazi-Kentung Road, a
temporary landing ground has been made by the Mawchi Mines for Indian Air
Survey and Transport, Limited, who, in November 1936, carried out a photo
graphic air survey of 2,500 square miles of territory to the south-west of Loikaw.
The landing ground is a strip 750 X 150 yards but can easily be extended to 1,000
yards square. (See separate schedule.)
(3) The climatological observations were started about June 1936 at,—
A ungban.
Shweuyaung (near Sinhe).
Loilem.
Kengtung.
They have also been taken at three places in the Northern Shan States with
which we are not immediately concerned (Old Lashio, Kutkai and Tangyan).
(4) The observations are partially vitiated by lack of essential data, and
steps are being taken to get them completed, but they show generally clear
weather from November to April. Rainfall statistics have been published by
the Indian Meteorological Department for Kalaw (near Aungban), Taunggvi
Loilem and Loimwe (near Kengtung). Rainfall occurs mostlv in the months
of May to October. Annual rainfall is 50 to 75 inches. Rainv days reach a
maximum m August —22 at Kengtung, 18 elsewhere. The special observations
are summarised below :—
At Aim jib an there is a tendency to morning fog with visibilitv below 1 000
yams about once a month in September and October increasino - to ]0 times
a month m November and December and persisting into January and Februarv—
about once a month. Later in the day clear visibility prevails. Other observa
lions are vitiated.
At SI,wenymmgttiere was no cloud on the highest hill observed (6 200 feet.l
tip to the end of July ^ In August, September and October clouds obscure the
lulls down to 4 700 feet m about two-thirds of the observations but mainly in the
morning. Visibility was practically never below 24 miles, generally over 6 miles
Generally visibility is better m the afternoon. ' ' m Je
u vi Lon Z™ e ! e *r ?? ndit i 01 ?s prevailed in August, but in September October
d Novembei visibility is below 1,000 yards in about 7 morning observations -i
month— -sometimes persisting later into the day. After December cleaf condi
lions prevail. Other observations are vitiated. ’ r COIUl1 -
At Kong lung observations are only available for SentemW ar,,} n + r
tVbe clear * 1 of 2 c C d aSionS “ m0nth WaS visiWlity below 6 miles - appeared
IV. Flight Routes.
, -r * account of the prevalence of variable cross winrl« nn i
monsoon, all flights had t o be planned to tike‘place Tth the , a PP roach oi
left Rangoon therefore, at 0545 P on the 25th April and carried ollt thefi*’"f W<
naissance Ihght immediately after refuelling T nino / 1 - , fir st recon
aviation petrol and oil had been desnatcherf tn a s P e( l ial sll PP 1 y oj
second reconnaissance flight w^rst^ffftm Loikaw 70540 In the 2 mh' 4 ^
after which we returned to Rangoon. al U ° 4U ° n the A P ri l
26th April 0545—0765 Rangoon to Loikaw.
0830-1145 A flight of about 300 miles. Course N. N E from Loikaw to ih<
Kengtung road east of Loilem; thence east along the i old to W
15 E near the Nam Pang River; thence west aLngfhero"
t f rand Taunggyi to Aungban; thence S. S. E over th<
Inle Lake to Loikaw. Altitude of flight about 8,000 feet.